While in NYC last weekend, I squeezed in an hour at the MoMA to see their exhibition Wunderkammer: A Century of Curiosities (July 30-Nov 10, 2008). It’s really phenomenal. The main criticism I heard as I wandered the gallery was that the collection was perhaps a bit incoherent and scattered, and that may be true, but order barely imposed on a chaotic diversity of specimens is the essence of a wonder cabinet – isn’t it?

This was one of the specimens that caught my eye: a simple, fluid lithograph of a flying raven by Edouard Manet. It’s from the illustrated French edition of “The Raven” by Edgar Allan Poe. Apparently Stephane Mallarme, the poet who translated “The Raven” into French, was friends with Manet, and they collaborated on this edition.

I fully agree with the curator who chose the ex libris image above for inclusion in the MoMA collection: it’s timeless and graceful, and a little bit sinister. Unfortunately, the other lithographs Manet did strike me as boring. Ultimately, the book was not very popular, perhaps because Poe, Manet, and Mallarme were not yet well-known – or perhaps because (in my opinion, at least) the bookplate was the best thing about it!

Comments

I think it’s funny how people say MoMA, as if their regular conversations include such copious references to The Museum of Modern Art that it necessitates skipping even a first use of the compound term.

Super Mario Kart was most definitely not included in the auto racing umbrella. Speaking of Super Mario Kart, I am quite upset that you haven’t devoted a weekly series to explaining to your readers how they are in the company of a World Record holder like myself.

Aw, thanks Bioephemera! Likewise! Great minds think alike and all that. Sorry I haven’t commented in awhile, but I’m still reading faithfully.

Say, how much longer will you be in our fair city? D and I would love to meet up with you for coffee if you find yourself with any free time (although I’m sure you have a million things to do. Lots to see!)

I’ve been meaning to go to the Wunderkammer exhibit. Looking forward to the full review!